Marine Corps Logistics Base Barstow, Calif. -- After more than a year of construction, a new and improved School-Age Care Center on Marine Corps Logistics Base Barstow, Calif., officially opened, Feb. 5, during a ribbon-cutting ceremony.
Following the ribbon cutting, children gave attendees a tour of their new facility and cut cake with Col. Michael L. Scalise, commanding officer of MCLB Barstow.
Last year, Scalise did a walk-through of the empty building.
“I’m impressed,” said Scalise. “I’m looking forward to the opening.”
Denise Niblack, Family Care branch manager here who helped design the facility, explained how excited parents are to have their children enrolled in the new facility. It has a training room, an art room, space for karate classes, a studio for dance, ballet, and Zumba, and a quiet study room for the children to do homework.
“The other facility was getting too old,” said Niblack. “It wasn’t meeting requirements … this new facility will allow the staff to better accomplish the curriculum. The children will be in a better environment to (enhance) their learning.”
The SAC offers before and after school care and all-day care during the summer, she said. The programs the facility offers are available to all children on base; not just the ones enrolled in the school-age care.
“It’s very well done,” said Scalise. “We will enjoy this building for many years to come.”